JOHN DE PLANO CARPINI ad. 



1246. 

 & yet still nevertheles sends for him, to have him 

 come. 



How the Tartars behave themselves in warre. [I. 62.] 

 Chap. 17. 



C Hingis Cham divided his Tartars by captaines of The military 

 ten, captaines of an 100. and captaines of a 1000. discipline of 

 And over ten Millenaries or captains of a 1000, he ^^^ Tartars. 

 placed, as it were, one Colonel, and yet notwithstanding 

 over one whole armie he authorised two or three 

 dukes, but yet so that all should have especiall regard 

 unto one of the said dukes. And when they joine 

 battel against any other nation, unles they do all with 

 one consent give backe, every man that flies is put to 

 death. And if one or two, or more of ten proceed 

 manfully to the battel, but the residue of those ten 

 draw backe & follow not the company, they are in 

 like maner slaine. Also, if one among ten or more 

 bee taken, their fellowes, if they rescue them not, are 

 punished with death. Moreover they are enjoined to 

 have these weapons following. Two long bowes or one Their 

 good one at the least, three quivers full of arrowes, & one '^veapons. 

 axe, and ropes to draw engines withal. But the richer 

 sort have single edged swords, with sharpe points, and 

 somewhat crooked. They have also armed horses with 

 their shoulders and breasts defenced, they have helmets 

 and brigandines. Some of them have jackes, and caparisons 

 for their horses made of leather artificially doubled or 

 trebled upon their bodies. The upper part of their 

 helmet is of iron or Steele, but that part which com- 

 passeth about the necke and the throate is of leather. 

 Howbeit some of them have all their foresaide furniture 

 of iron framed in maner following. They beate out 

 many thinne plates a finger broad, and a handful long, 

 and making in every one of them eight little holes, 

 they put thereunto three strong and streight leather 

 thongs. So they joine the plates one to another, as it 

 were, ascending by degrees. Then they tie the plates 



155 



